Jimmy Connors

Connors, Jimmy (James Scott Connors, Jr.), 1952–, American tennis player, b. East St. Louis, Ill. A volatile, controversial, and fiercely competitive player, Connors was known for his theatrical conduct on the court as well as for his powerful two-handed backhand, strong return of service, accurate baseline play, and agility. He remains the all-time leader in men's tournament victories (109) and held the men's number one ranking for 160 weeks (1974–77), a record that was broken in 2007 by Roger Federer. He won five U.S. Open titles (1974, 1976, 1978, 1982, and 1983) on three different surfaces, two Wimbledon singles titles (1974 and 1982), and one Australian Open title (1974). Since his retirement he has worked as a television commentator on tennis and as a tennis coach.